Why filter water?

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Why Filter Water?

To remove a variety of contaminants that may be present in your water supply whether it is municipally treated tap water, well water, or surface water from lakes and streams.

Innova products have been independently tested and certified to remove the stated contaminate challenge over the stated life of the product. The Innova carbon composite filters are certified by NSF and the biological filters certified by independent laboratories on numerous occasions for the removal of bacteria and has meet the stringent and difficult protocol required to meet the EPA requirements for both protozoa cyst and bacteria elimination which means a minimum reduction of bacteria of 99.9999 percent.

Chemical treatment for virus removal may be required in certain circumstances, they are not normally removed by filtration with the possible exception of reverse osmosis. Chlorine, the preferred disinfectant, is removed by the Innova carbon composite filters. Iodine, may have its taste removed by carbon filtration. However, the harmful effects remain and, if used at all for disinfecting, should be used for emergency purposes only.

Taste:

Chlorine is the most common factor cited in unfavorable tap water taste tests. The poor taste associated with chlorine disinfecting, contributes to insufficient consumption of water by most municipal water consumers. Few people actually drink the 8 glasses a day recommended by health authorities, certainly not those in areas where poor water quality is a problem.

Innova water filters are specifically designed for efficient removal of chlorine from water, thus providing a source of water which tastes good and is more likely to be consumed.

Innova's water filtration products are certified by NSF International to the Class One status in the ANSI/NSF Standard 42 for Aesthetic Effects in Drinking Water Treatment Units. Some manufacturers claim to be tested "according to NSF standards", but their results would rarely pass for more than the first few ounces of water produced by the filter. Innova products are certified by NSF to function as specified for the entire rated life of the filter.

Chemicals:

Municipal drinking water can contain materials which cause poor taste and odor in the water, or are harmful to one's health. While the water leaving the treatment plant is monitored for the presence of dangerous materials, leaks and other problems occurring downstream from the plant can lower the quality of the water. Using a filtration system at the point of water use, provides additional protection against problems which may occur in your water system.

In a recent USA Today special report entitled "How safe is your water?" 58 million people got water that violated testing and purity standards. Additionally, water system operators are faced with an increasing difficult task of removing a host of new threats, from heartier bacteria as well as protozoa cysts, to more and more toxic industrial pollutants, fertilizers and pesticides from municipal water systems. Chlorine, long used as the disinfectant of choice in the treatment of municipal water supplies for the prevention of the spread of disease, is under considerable pressure. Not only is chlorine the most common factor cited in unfavorable tap water taste tests, but chlorine byproducts have been directly linked as a possible cause of colon, rectal, breast, prostate and testicular cancers (The American Journal of Public Health, Washington Post) through consumption in the public water supply. These materials may also be a contributor to arterial and heart disease. While there is considerable public sentiment toward a chlorine ban, it currently remains the only viable alternative in the prevention of the spread of water borne disease although it is proving ineffective against some protozoa cysts such as cryptosporidum.

Heavy metals such as lead, as well as pesticides and industrial contaminants, have been found to have reentered the water supply at some point between the treatment plant and the consumer. Lead has been almost a universal problem entering the water supply from the lead supply lines used in older cities, the lead joints in copper points, and the lead which leaches from brass plumbing fixtures which is an amalgamation of copper and lead. Lead is a cause of neurological problems and can be a cause of birth defects in unborn children.

Innova manufactures water filters that can remove over 90% of lead and chlorine when new, maintaining removal rates of 90% and 80% respectively, after the passage of 40 gallons of water. The composite activated carbon media filter also reduces many of the other contaminates that may find their way into the water supply. Contaminants of this type include organic pesticides and disinfecting byproducts such as trihalomethanes.

By Federal law municipalities must test their water periodically for chemical contaminants and coliform bacteria Testing procedures cover only 80 chemical contaminants. While the testing covers the most common contaminants it is estimated that over 6,000 man made chemical contaminants exist with new ones being developed daily. An unfortunate result of the never ending search for technical progress and superiority.

Innova's water filtration products meet or exceed NSF International to the Class One status in the ANSI/NSF Standard 42 for Aesthetic Effects in Drinking Water Treatment Units. Some manufacturers claim to be tested "according to NSF standards", but their results would rarely pass for more than the first few ounces of water treated by the filter. Innova products are certified by NSF to function as specified for the entire rated life of the filter. Innova also meet or exceed NSF, in the establishment of additional standards to ensure product performance and safety in the water treatment industry.

Microbes:

Although tap water in the United States is generally safe, it can contain cysts such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. When these are present in large numbers, your city may issue a "boil alert". Outside the United States the water, especially in undeveloped countries, may contain more harmful bacteria or viruses such as cholera and hepatitis.

It has been reported that during any twelve month cycle 50% of the municipal water supplies in the United States will suffer an infestation of Cryptosporidium. This is particularly worrisome for individuals with an impaired immune system, the very young or older persons. Cryptosporidium was responsible for the death of some 400 people in Milwaukee and the sickness of hundreds more in Sydney Australia. While also found on occasion in municipal water supplies Giardia is more frequently encountered in lakes and streams that otherwise appear to be pristine.

To counter this health threat Innova has developed and offers several highly effective and thoroughly tested products for the removal of both protozoa cysts such as cryptosporidium and pathogenic bacteria including E. coli, coliform, chloria, and Bacillas globegia a surrogate and of the same size and species as anthrax. surpassing the requirements of the EPA for bacteria removal at more than 99.999%, a six log removal and 99.99% removal of protozoa cysts, a four log removal. This is accomplished by employing a unique hollow fiber membrane filter with a 0.2 micron pour size.This is the same technology used for blood dialysis.

For the traveler and in emergency situations it is necessary to treat water for Virus as well as the Bacteria and Protozoa eliminated by the Innova biological filter. To treat for Virus chlorine is added to the bottle prior to filtration. Shortly, Innova will introduce an exceptionally effective chlorine tablet for this purpose. Note, the Innova Biological Filter is always combined with an effective carbon composite filter serving two purpose. The first of which is ti act as a chemical and particulate matter pre-filter, secondly, to eliminate the excess chlorine from the water, when water treatment for viral contamination is in order.